A Passionate History Lecture
Professor Milaze Eindhoven of the history department stood before her class with boundless energy, a stark contrast to the detached demeanor of her colleague, Professor Eggmas. She never tried to lord her title over the students, instead approaching her role with genuine enthusiasm. Her true duty, she believed, was to guide the bright young faces seated directly in front of her in the right direction, and to impart as much knowledge as possible was why she stood in this very room.
Lucian could not help but feel relieved to be assigned to her lecture. Many students complained that her lessons were too dry and textbook-like, yet history was far too important to be overlooked.
The crucial lesson on history could not be dismissed with a few sentences.
If only there had been a professor like Eggmas here instead!
“Among the conflicts between Lebechia and the rival Pirot Kingdom, the most intense was the Ten-Year War. Thirty years ago, that war claimed countless lives and left many wounded. Yet paradoxically, it also propelled both nations to explosive growth, laying the foundation for the society we know today. After the war, a truly outstanding prime minister emerged in Lebechia, overseeing the full recovery and even greater advancement of the nation. Does anyone here know who that was?”
One of Lucian’s classmates raised his hand.
Milaze pointed to him, and he stood at once with perfect composure.
“Prime Minister Ju Cloud Low Dragonschulz.”
“Precisely. Dragon Schulz erased every scar of the Ten-Year War, elevating Lebechia to a great power. His Majesty the King recognized his contributions and offered him the title of Prime Minister for life, but he politely declined and entrusted the position to a worthy successor.”
Even if Lucian had already heard the story many times, hearing it again still felt monumental.
No matter how honest a man claimed to be, once he tasted the sweetness of power, escaping it was nearly impossible.
The kingdom’s most illustrious prime minister had rejected the very honor the king offered him.
“Old water always stagnates,” he had said, while explaining that new leadership was needed.
In the end, he had left quite a dignified impression.
Ah, why “dignified”? Because, before becoming prime minister, he had also served as a military commander.
One could only imagine what he was doing now.
One day he had left a single letter stating that he wished to go fishing and had vanished without a trace.
“Dragon Schulz accomplished many things. Most of them are already legendary, yet even among the lesser-known achievements there are still many superb ones. Today, let us examine one of them—the Emergency Transport System.”
The Emergency Transport System—simply put, an ambulance or ambulance service.
To Lucian, who remembered every technological marvel of the twenty-first century, it seemed utterly obvious. Yet here in this world it had been introduced relatively recently.
After all, the era itself sat somewhere between early and late modern times. The king, the nobility, and the common people had all been recognized as proper members of society, each able to succeed through honest effort rather than mere plunder.
“Until now, whether on the battlefield or in daily life, anyone injured had to wait for a physician to arrive or be carried to one. But there were times when a mere moment could decide life or death. Prime Minister Dragon Schulz regretted this deeply. At first he requisitioned carriages to be ready at any moment, anywhere…”
Professor Milaze’s lecture was filled with captivating moments.
She captured her students’ attention perfectly and stirred genuine curiosity, ensuring none of them lost focus or drifted into daydreams. She conversed with them constantly, more like a true mentor than a pompous “old fogy” who measured himself above her peers.
Many of the people sitting beside Lucian were fragments of history itself.
And in his previous life he had taken a special interest in history as a lay scholar.
This was one of the few lectures where he could simply sit back and absorb knowledge without applying his own skills.
“Ah, I must have talked a little too enthusiastically today. Forgive me, everyone. That concludes today’s lesson. Tomorrow we will briefly review the material and open the floor for questions.”
It seemed that most of his classmates felt the same way, for none of them had dozed off or been distracted. The entire hour had passed unnoticed, and not a single student had left before the bell.
“Student Lucian?”
As Lucian gathered his textbook and notes to leave the classroom, Professor Milaze suddenly called him.
“You didn’t ask any questions today. Usually you ask plenty.”
“Ah, today’s lecture covered material I had already heard before. Because I understood most of Professor’s explanations, I didn’t feel the need.”
“I see.”
“Besides, your passion for the subject is so intense that I worried I might be impolite if I interrupted. Were you worried that I might ask a question?”
With a mischievous grin, Lucian coaxed a laugh from her.
And, clearly relieved that the playful remark had not offended her, she joined in.
“Indeed, today’s lecture was more energetic than usual.”
“It must have been because you hold the person you respect most in high esteem—Prime Minister Dragon Schulz.”
“Yes. He created the naturalization law so that people from other nations, foreigners, or mixed-heritage individuals would never suffer discrimination here in Lebechia. He has performed countless other noble acts as well. Simply being alive in the same era as him is an honor when one teaches and studies history.”
For reference, Prime Minister Dragon Schulz was well over sixty.
It was a little strange to hear Professor Milaze, a woman who still looked young enough to be considered in her prime, speak of living in the same era as him, yet once one knew her better, the remark would make perfect sense.
Her ears stretched like those of an elf, impossibly long. Her eyes held a deep emerald green that seemed to gaze straight into the forest itself. Her body was so slender that a casual touch could snap it—yet she possessed the strength to restrain even a grown man in laughter.
At Minerva Academy, Professor Milaze Eindhoven was an elf.
“Hmm, Professor. If it wouldn’t be rude, may I ask a question even now?”
“If it concerns history, feel free.”
“I was wondering how the relationship between Lebechia and the Minas Elf Kingdom might change.”
“If you ask why I’m curious, can I answer?”
“My father once served as a diplomat, and I’m also interested in international relations. The fact that the Minas Kingdom chose to ally with Lebechia instead of Pirot came as a complete surprise.”
Lebechia had fought wars against both elves and Pirot, spilling blood on both sides.
“An enemy’s enemy is a friend,” some had said. Everyone on the continent had expected the elves and Pirot to form an alliance against Lebechia.
Yet here was the Minas Elf Kingdom, shattering every expectation and choosing Lebechia over Pirot.
They sent a diplomat, signed a formal treaty, and established peaceful relations.
For proud elves, that alone was shocking enough.
They went even further, making even more radical moves.
Last year, the princess of Minas, **Charlotte Monzen Heinrich**, enrolled at this very academy.
At present, Princess Charlotte was a second-year student here.
And long before that, Professor Milaze Eindhoven had already been teaching here.
Because of that, Lucian suspected she might have sensed some shift within elven society.
“Yes, Lucian is from the Theodore von Deodore family, isn’t he? I’ve heard the name. They say it’s a lineage that built connections not only in Lebechia but across the continent as diplomats.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then it’s only natural to wonder—does Lucian aspire to become a diplomat himself?”
“…I can’t say I’ve never thought about it.”
“I see. Then I’d be even more curious. Why did the elves choose Lebechia over Pirot?”
Professor Milaze nodded thoughtfully, smiled faintly, and pointed to the book in Lucian’s hand.
“All future answers lie in the history of the past. Look there and you will understand.”
The reply was vague yet undeniably true.
When such vast groups aligned, precedents always existed.
History did indeed repeat itself.
“Thank you for the answer, Professor.”
“What are you thanking me for? It’s my duty to spark stronger scholarly passion in any student who shows enthusiasm.”
There were always a few professors who did the opposite, but that was the exception.
Lucian thanked her, then turned and walked out of the history lecture hall.
He had deliberately chosen many classes this year to rack up enough points to secure maximum free time in the first year and to give himself breathing room once he advanced to the next year.
He had originally planned to take a generous hour before moving on to his next lecture, Administrative Law.
But because he had spent twenty minutes chatting with Professor Milaze, he had forgotten the time.
If he rushed to the library now, he would barely have time to pick up even one book.
He had been about to head to the plaza for a quick dose of photosynthesis when—
Clang.
“Ah!”
As he passed through a nearly empty corridor, his body suddenly lurched sideways.
He had almost tripped, but his ankle felt perfectly fine.
Only when he straightened up did he see the gem-like eyes directly in front of him.
Familiar hands seized his collar again and pinned him down.
It had to be—
“Lucian. What have you done this time?”
“Why are you like this again? This time I really didn’t do anything, Rie.”
“You didn’t do anything, yet that’s exactly what people are saying.”
“People are saying what?”
“That you dared to confront a professor.”
“…Who said that?”
“Professor Eggmas. He knows I’m the representative of the first-year class. He called me aside and said, even though the distance between literary and martial students is understandable, I should still warn you to keep your line as representative.”
Wow… this turn of events was completely unexpected.
Lucian had assumed other professors or even the dean would be the ones complaining.
But it was Rie?
A professor like this actually existed? Lucian let out an amused chuckle, only for the next words to be even more shocking.
“He kept glaring at me with strange looks, so I never wanted to meet him again. But after just a month of school, what kind of incident…?”
“You really are something else, Professor. Is the academy starting to rot like stagnant water?”
“Lucian!”
“Calm down. I’ll tell you exactly what Professor Eggmas actually said.”
Lucian gave her a concise, crystal-clear summary.
The arrogant personality, the sharp criticisms, the excessive mockery directed at students, and everything that had led to his own appearance in this situation.
“Does that mean… that’s all true?”
“If you’re curious, ask the literary classmates. They were the ones who should have investigated the full context and pulled my collar in the first place.”
Rie let out a soft sigh, then slowly lowered her hands.
She looked momentarily flustered, then spoke cautiously.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that…”
“It’s all right. He probably only gave you the version that suited him.”
“This is crossing the line for a professor. I must report this—”
“It’s fine. If we don’t speak up, things will sort themselves out.”
* * * * * * * * * *
At that exact moment, a carriage pulled into Minerva Academy.
No one could see who was inside, but anyone could tell where it had come from.
The emblem on the side of the carriage unmistakably belonged to the **Magic Tower**.